Within the scope of this year's ceremony, a total of 746 young craftsmen, 433 of them from Paderborn and 313 from Lippe, were ceremoniously released into their professional future at the Schützenhof Paderborn on August 12, 2023.

Our former apprentices as precision mechanics Leon Meier, Constantin Brink and Valerio Zapparatta were also pleased to receive their journeyman's certificates. In his welcoming speech, the deputy district master craftsman Michael Friemuth emphasized the outstanding importance of the journeyman's certificate for the young graduates: "Today, talented and highly motivated young craftsmen receive their journeyman's certificate - their ticket to the future". "They have made a wise decision to go into the skilled trades," Friemuth emphasized. However, this career choice is not only beneficial for their personal and professional future, but also has a positive impact on the further development of society as a whole, he added. After all, as "pioneers of the future," craftsmen are the driving force behind the energy transition.

Best precision mechanic in the guild and top training company

The best craftsmen in the Paderborn guild were honored by General Manager Michael Lutter and Deputy District Master Craftsman Michael Friemuth. In this course there was also reason for joy for us. Valerio Zapparata was honored as the best precision mechanic in the guild and Rotte received a certificate as a top training company.

The skilled trades as the engine of the German economy

Chief Executive Michael Lutter made it clear to the young craftsmen in which "terrific team" they had landed: "The skilled crafts sector is a driving force for economic stability, social cohesion and the positive development of the future". Without the skilled trades, society would not be able to function and develop on so many levels. Unfortunately, however, the shortage of skilled workers is a major concern: "You will notice every day that you are missing colleagues," said Lutter. Therefore, he said, there is an urgent need to create even more incentives for young people to start an apprenticeship in the skilled trades. "If the skilled trades work, everything else works, too," said Lutter.

Politics called for

In addition to more appreciation and recognition for the skilled trades, the CEO also believes that investments in vocational training and digitalization are particularly necessary. "We as a skilled crafts organization have done our homework, now it's the politicians' turn," Lutter emphasized. In doing so, he referred to the in-house training campaign "Follow your me", which has been successfully promoting training in the skilled trades in schools and at trade fairs for years. "Just as we invest in training marketing and innovation transfer here on site, the legislature must also get involved so that the skilled trades become even more attractive to young people, starting with digitized apprenticeships and ending with digitized everyday working life," said Lutter.